An insider's view of what is really happening in the Harris County Criminal Courts

Friday, May 22, 2009

Another Friday - Another Chief Leaves

In what is seemingly becoming a new Harris County District Attorney's Office tradition, yet another Felony District Court Chief turned in his resignation this Friday.

Chief of the 178th District Court, Lester Blizzard, turned in his two week notice this afternoon. On a sidenote, neither Pat Lykos nor Jim Leitner could be found on the 6th Floor to accept the resignation, so Lester turned it over to the administrative assistant in charge of timesheets. I don't know where Leitner was, but it must have been Lykos' nap time.

For those of you who don't know Lester Blizzard, he had been a Division Chief in Major Fraud/White Collar Crime prior to Lykos and the Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight pulled into town. In addition to taking on massive and complicated cases involving specialized knowledge and a tremendous amount of patience to prosecute, Lester was also in charge of taking on dirty lawyers that practiced law without a license. He has a very analytical mind and a very effective way of presenting complicated cases to juries. His success record as a prosecutor on these types of cases was extremely impressive.

But Lester wasn't only talented at trying the "paper" cases. He also did quite well in trying violent cases. He sat second chair with Kelly Siegler on the infamous "Wig Shop" murder, successfully prosecuting Dror Goldberg for the Bellaire thrill kill. He also was the lead prosecutor on the case of Beau Maloney, who was murdered an innocent woman at random in the Rice Village area (as part of a larger string of random and unprovoked violent crimes).

Lester's specialized knowledge in white collar cases made him the natural choice when promoted to head the White Collar Division of Special Crimes. Quite frankly, it was a match made in Heaven. Lester had prosecuted massive insurance fraud cases and had even testified before Congress on the topic. The D.A.'s Office was quite fortunate to have a prosecutor with that type of background.

In an era where White Collar Crime is becoming the most lucrative areas of practice for criminal defense, Lester remained a public servant and stayed true to remaining on the prosecution side of it.

Unfortunately, and extremely stupidly, when Lykos and the Gang took over, they (in their infinite wisdom) chose to demote Lester from his position in White Collar Crimes and move him back to the Trial Bureau as a District Court Chief. In all of the stupid things that they did (and Lord knows there are a lot to choose from), moving Lester out of that position was probably the dumbest. By analogy, it would be like a new coach taking over the San Francisco 49ers in the late 1980s and deciding to move Joe Montana to linebacker.

Lester tried to make the best of the situation, and for the past five months he has continued to serve as the Chief of the 178th District Court.

But apparently, he finally grew fed up with the incompetence of the Lykos Administration, and turned in his resignation today.

Now, common sense would dictate that an attorney with Lester's talent and experience would most likely be headed to a big firm where he could draw a tremendous salary doing White Collar defense, right?

Nope.

Lester is actually taking a 40% pay cut and heading to the Galveston County District Attorney's Office. He'll be making a lengthy commute for less money, but at the end of the day, he will continue to be a Public Servant.

Harris County's loss is Galveston's gain. And once again, we have Pat Lykos and the Gang to thank for it.

55 comments:

For those of you who don't know Lester-he is a GREAT guy, totally devoted to law enforcement. He is truly the type of person who would do anything for a co-worker or give a stranger in need the shirt off of his back. Harris County's loss is a tremendous gain for Galveston County. When you think of the talent and experience the HCDA Office has lost vs. what they have brought in-it truly boggles the mind. I understand the Lykos wants sycophants but this is getting ridiculous.

I heard about this apparently orchestrated travesty for Harris County citizens through the CCR "grapevine." It has been more years than I would care to remember since Lester Blizzard came down from the Eastland Court of Appeals to interview for a job in the Appellate Division of the office. I still remember that interview, and after it, I had no trepidation in recommending that Johnny offer him a position in my Legal Services Bureau. During his time in Appellate, Lester demonstrated that he was more than a talented "book lawyer", and when he requested to go and litigate cases with other attorneys in the office, there was no hestitation on my part in permitting him to do so. As a result of his demonstrated skills, senior prosecutors sought his assistance in trial as noted in the blog. Lester matured in skill and wisdom, and ultimately his abilities were recognized in later years, after my retirement, with his assignment to the prosecution of white collar crimes cases, an area of prosecution demanding an extremely talented attorney. I have already expressed my opinion as to the obvious deficiencies of the putative leader of the current administration. Little would be gainsaid as to repeating my evaluation of an office that patently is without a leader. Thus, I will reserve my ad hominem remarks for another day. What I wish to do, however, is to wish an individual who I believe not only to be an excellent and talented attorney, but just a good guy the best - Good luck, Lester, to you and your family. Calvin A. Hartmann

I hope everyone knows how amazing Mr. Blizzard really is. The only person in the office who is certified in criminal law and has a MBA. Funny how Lickus promotes someonw who is one has no credentials and is nothing more than an prayer associate of LDL and BridgePunk. Mr. Blizzard deserves more than these incompetent fools. Good Luck and one day you will be part of "transition team".

So I guess I don't get why you're blaming Lykos on this one, or some of the others for that matter. First of all, if somebody doesn't like to work for the HCDA they have the option to leave. Lester has taken that option. Good for him, and what a "smart" choice, too: take a 40% cut in pay and drive further. I'm thinking there might be more intelligent people at the office needed to head the 178th. But in his defense, he wants to be a prosecutor so money, time, and distance are of little consequence. Secondly, do you know where Lykos or Leitner was at the time Lester decided to be a quitter? (I decided I might try my own spin) I have no idea either but maybe they took a vacation day. Novel, I know. Third, you mention that Lester stayed on even when you could have done defense work for the scum he prosecuted. Obviously not. He wants to prosecute, so prosecute he will continue to do, just like many others continue to do in the white collar section. The only difference is they haven't quit. When Stephen St. Martin was moved from the trial bureau (where he was damned good) to Public Integrity by Chuck Rosenthal, one day at lunch I asked what he told Chuck when he was told he would have to go there, he said, "Yes, boss." He said he'd go wherever he was asked to go. That's a stand-up guy. That's someone who is loyal and knows that the office is bigger than he is. If Lester is so invaluable that he should never have been taken out of the white collar section because nobody can do as good of a job as he can, then the HCDA has bigger problems than Pat and her Gang. When somebody's ego becomes so big that they think they're indispensible, they need to pack their bags and get the heck out!

Murray, the problem you and your ilke face is the diconnect with the voting public. Reading you blog and other accounts of the atrocities of Lykos (past and present), it is clearly evident that she is a dirtbag; however, through persuasive politics and a hand or two at the chronicle she have convinced voters that she would and is cleaning the cobwebs of the chuck era. At this point (if pressed), I think that with little public opposition, she could simply claim that any of the ADA's that quit are simply relics of the disgraced administration whether it is true or not. Most voters will like the rhetoric and embrace the change. This is not a rosy point, and I don't have a simple solution, but I believe that the public will drink the Kool-Aid for the time being. That being said, please continue to fight the good fight. I know you ain't skeeter.

Where to start? When the new administration was coming, they asked us to submit a resume. The story was they felt talent was being wasted in various positions throughout the office. Prosecutors had special talent and training that needed to be tapped. So lets review Lester's resume, years in fraud and a certified fraud examiner. Didn't he get an MBA? I don't know how he does it but he could explain the most complex paper case to a jury and get great results. So where does this talented prosecutor get assigned? Trial Bureau. Well all I can say is Lykos continues to make good on her promise to make the best DA's office in the state, the problem is that it is not Harris County. The surrounding counties are benefitting from the mismanagement. Good luck Lester.

Good Luck Lester. I think you will enjoy working in Galveston. I know they will enjoy having you. From what I understand, Sistrunk is a good guy and takes an active interest in his personnel.

Not surprised Lykos wasn't around to take Lester's letter. Even were she there, she historically hasn't received anyone. She obviously has no interest in her personnel and probably has no idea who they are. How she can equate that with management is beyond me.

Pat Lykos, like her brother DA in Fort Bend County John Healey, is constantly losing talent. In Harris, it's not pay but job assignment. In Fort Bend, it's because of the lack of salary and the micromanagement. Fort Bend pays just a wee bit more than Galveston, despite being one of the fastest growing counties in the nation.

Whereas other DA's offices in fast growing counties (Williamson, Collin, Travis) have chosen to fight for more compensation for their experienced prosecutors in order to retain them as employees, the Fort Bend DA worries more about making youtube videos to proclaim the dangers of Obama than he does about his employees.

Fort Bend has had an astronomical turnover in their felony prosecutor and appellate positions during the last nine years. In fact, Fort Bend DA Healey just fired their white collar chief. So glad Lester went to Galveston and not Fort Bend. In Galveston they'll treat him like they appreciate him.

Anon 9:48 Clearly you do not work at the DA's office nor have you ever worked there. You do not know what it is like to work in a hostile environment. If you are not one of Lykos' hand picked hires (most of whom are not competent to hold the position for which they are paid) or if you have not drank the kool aid and introduce Lykos to speaking groups as the person who has restored integrity and the rule of law to the DA's office, then you are dirt. You wait for the press conference your boss is going to have to declare you incompetent and negligent. You received orders to give special favors to Lykos friends and the instructions are never in written form, that would leave a paper trail to Lykos and she needs to be able to deny. Was leaving the Harris County DA's office a smart move for Lester, you bet. Did he take a cut in pay and will he have to drive further, still a smart move. Lester is lucky because he could afford to make the move. He will be able to hold his head high and say he works for the Galveston DA's office. With the exception of the Lykos team, no one at HCDA is holding their head high. Most are looking for another job and can't afford to make the move like Lester. I spoke with Lester shortly before he announced he would be leaving. He did not do make this decision lightly and it was not made because he thought he was indispensable. You can contact Lester and talk to him about why he made this move. Harris County lost started when Lester was moved to trial bureau and now is greater as he moves to Galveston. My prayers are with those real prosecutors still at the HCDA office.

Anon 12:36, actually I do work for the DA's Office. I hold my head up very proudly. Again, this office is bigger than one person, including the ELECTED DA! I'm just proud to work on this side of the law than to be working on the defense. Please understand that nobody can't make you do anything you don't want to do. Lester left because he didn't want to work here. It's not a hostile environment by any stretch. Those who choose to dislike this place will be unhappy. Those who choose to hold their respective heads up high and say "I'm proud to work at the Harris County District Attorney's Office" will be much happier and not be a drain on others. As corny as it sounds, you do have to make lemonade at times. You make things as they are for yourself. If you choose to be miserable, then leave. I choose to stay focused on my tasks and I'm perfectly happy. Now, if I were the DA, I would make some changes myself, but who wouldn't. Lester didn't have that fincancial crimes division chief's spot made just for him. As Murray wrote, Lester was very good with other types of cases as well. Sure it's a loss for us that he left, but if he left because he got moved, that's just too damned bad. Live with it or leave...and he left, at least that's the way this blog has spun it.

Lester is one of the finest lawyers i ever worked with. I dealt with him on many cases I was defending. He is a true gentleman. Lester had his own personal reasons for leaving and it had nothing to do with the new group.Lester is entering a new phase of his life and we need to wish him well and quit the drama that is being evented about why he is leaving. FRIEND OF LESTER

Dear Friend of Lester: If you were a real friend of Lester than you would know exactly why he is leaving. If you think its not because of the new group and the way he was treated, you are living in a fictional drama. Those close to Mr. Blizzard know the truth.

I generally avoid this blog - it's always the same tired rant about the injustice that Chuck's sainted, handpicked successor was denied a birth right by conspirators far and wide to award the HCDAO to an outsider (a foul mouthed, ill tempered, cigarette sucking politician - which she undoubtedly is) who promised a long overdue house cleaning. The election is over, the people have spoken, move on. There's another election in a few years.

Several of the laments about talent lost are laughable - the majority of those departed folks were not honorable prosecutors in the best sense of the words. They very much embraced Chuck's "convict at all costs" philosophy.

All that said, I wish to add my voice to the well deserved chorus of praise for Lester Blizzard. Lester is, as many have already noted, a very talented attorney who is devoted to his work. I found him to be tough but reasonable. While we frequently argued over what was fair, Lester was always in the zone of reasonable disagreement. This is not something I could say about many of the departed.

Lester was one of the few ADAs in HCDAO I could show my cards without fear that it would be used for injustice. When I could show him misconduct on behalf of the State, he did not hesitate to dump the case or use the misconduct as a basis to depart from "policy". I never knew Lester to need to "discuss" the case, so a "testi-lie" could be arranged. Show it to Lester, he will make an immediate decision.

We disagreed and clashed frequently, but Lester was always approachable and easy to talk to when the advocacy was over. I will miss Lester Blizzard. I agree that this loss for HCDAO is a huge gain for GCDAO.

I am tired of people blaming Lykos because prosecutors are voluntarily resigning. You are all attorneys. Texas is an at-will employment state. You can leave whenever you want. It's one thing for a fired prosecutor to have a gripe, but a non-fired one???

Get over it! Kelly didn't win - thank God! If you don't like your new boss, go somewhere else. If you don't like your new assignment, then go somewhere else. Life is too short, the least you can do for yourself is be happy.

Lykos wanted to change the HCDAO. She has done that, with or without your approval. So grow up and deal with it accordingly!

I was disappointed by the attitude ostensibly reflected in several blog postings, some apparently penned by Lester Blizzard's associates as to his imminent departure from the office. I can undersstand the reluctance of those to remain unnamed, but I had always considered that the current and former members of the offfice were somewhat like a fraternity, or a sorority with deference to the female prosecutors, supportive of one another. Lifetime friendships had been formed and cemented at that office. The attitude expressed by several contributors, however, could more fairly be characterized as "Lester, go commit a physical impossibility on oneself", an expression requiring no further elucidation. Not having the benefit of the identity of these individuals and having no desire of acquiring anonymous "pen-pals", these general "anonymous" observation likewise are cast merely into that ethereal vacuum known as "blog or cyber space" in support of Lester and those who have left since election day 2008.1) departures, whether involuntary (termination by discharge, primary resulting from political retribution) or voluntary (quitting), and a lack of harmony and respect among co-employess are prima facie evidence of a hostile work environment; 2) the departure of talented and experienced attorneys is a drain on others - a drain on the abilities of those less experienced attorneys unable to adequately represent the victims of crime; 3) leaving, rather than being miserable - obviously what many have already done and most likey many more will wisely do; 4) only partial happiness with an office might suggest that happiness could be complete with a more employee friendly administration; and 5) the financial spot was not made for Lester - when one has a quarterback that has won several Super Bowl rings, one does not start the championship game with a rookie quarterback and a 3rd string offensive line.The legacy of the office is that many individuals have gone on to successful careers as judges, congressmen and state representatives, federal prosecutors, and respected members of the private civil and criminal bar. Lester likewise should continue that legacy. What the future legacy of the office, however, will be under the current administration is highly suspect. Unfortunately, the office has become the butt of jokes in the few short months since 1/1/09. Thus, to those unnamed, and continued to be unnamed, I would respectfully say: stay focused on the tasks, love the office and genuflect to the hierarchy as "DeFargian" exorcism seemingly continues unabated.

It would seem that the troll and her partners in crime are feeling some heat and now feel the need to post on your site in more numbers. Everytime you shine some light in their stupidity it burns their eyes. Good job!

Anom 2:09 Very well articulated. I like the way you write. Funny how you want to call us, Anom, out when you yourself cant identify who you are. You are no better than the hypocrits that run the office. Why dont you lead by example and identify yourself. Come on. Be a professional and an adult. Tell us who we should applaud for such a heart felt posting.

I was disappointed by the attitude ostensibly reflected in several blog postings, some apparently penned by Lester Blizzard's associates as to his imminent departure from the office. I can undersstand the reluctance of those to remain unnamed,With the exception of Murray and Hickman, the Lykos detractors are pretty much 100% anonymous as well. Cry about that for a while.

1) departures, whether involuntary (termination by discharge, primary resulting from political retribution) or voluntary (quitting), and a lack of harmony and respect among co-employess are prima facie evidence of a hostile work environment;Not true at all, especially considering the political nature of the DA's office and how many of the departed openly opposed Lykos. Also, "hostile work environment" has a specific legal meaning that isn't the same as "Lykos is cleaning house." Stick to the criminal cases, and let civil lawyers worry about things like employment law.

2) the departure of talented and experienced attorneys is a drain on others - a drain on the abilities of those less experienced attorneys unable to adequately represent the victims of crime;Maybe you should give other ADA's some credit? Who's creating the low morale problem and the hostile work environment, if the ADA's who care enough to suck it up and stay are being told by everyone that they're not good enough?

3) leaving, rather than being miserable - obviously what many have already done and most likey many more will wisely do;What?

4) only partial happiness with an office might suggest that happiness could be complete with a more employee friendly administration;You're judging "employee friendly" by your own standards. There seem to be far more employees staying than leaving. Don't impute your beliefs onto everyone else there, and assume that everyone is unhappy but staying anyway.

So it's kind of funny, don't you think, that you've anonymously complained about everyone posting anonymously, when most posters here are anonymous? And that most of your post is about something that most employees in the office apparently don't agree with?

Your facts are wrong. I am not anonymous, but retired and everyone knows who I am. I wish others were able to post without fear of reprisal, but those who still work there obviously can’t. I do wish that everyone would choose some kind of pseudonym so at least we can stop responding to Anon.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with many who are still working. To a person, they described the atmosphere at the office as repressive, fearful, and in disarray. Now, I admit I didn’t talk to the young prosecutors, but the veteran would be career prosecutors who are the backbone of the office. Those that have spent 15 to 20 years with the office and who are in their 40’s, married with 2 or 3 kids, with the prospect of retirement 5 or so years down the line, all fear that they can’t last the necessary time to retire, and look desperately at the prospect of losing all those years. However they truly believe that Lykos wishes they would just quit. Many see defense work as distasteful, but see prospects outside criminal law as slim because so many firms are downsizing and can get young lawyers cheap.

Those in supervisory positions are particularly fearful because they are getting no direction on policy and how personnel matters are handled and can’t seem to get answers. They are distrusted by those over them and by those under them.

It appears that the attitude of the current administration is that all that came before are dishonest, care only about convicting, and cavalier about obeying the law. I don’t know if that is the belief of Lykos, et al. But she is doing nothing to dispel that belief. I suppose that she may feel that is the politically correct position to take because many people outside the office have expressed that opinion.

Over the years I spent in the office, I had mentors; people whom I could trust to discuss problems with cases, appropriate recommendations, ethical issues, and what my bosses expected of me. Can you honestly say that now? Can you walk into Lykos’ or Litner’s office and discuss a case and express your opinion, or are you just a little scared of the reaction? If the answers are no and yes, then you’re not being honest with yourself.

Man I wish I had a solution, but fear that it will have to wait at least 3 ½ years. By then the office will be staffed with nothing but yes men.

Please crawl back under your rock. You don't even have the integrity to identify yourself yet you critisize the majority of the 15-20 senior prosecutors who have left since December as "win at all costs" Rosenthal disciples? What is your source of reference, the Chronicle, Lykos/Leitner campaign literature, coffee shop triple hearsay? If it's personal knowledge, aren't you obligated to report it to the State Bar? In fact if you check the State Bar web site I think you'd find that the majority of the people you refer to have never even been grieved. I would check your disciplinary history but you don't have enough character to identify yourself. Sorry to rant but as the son of a Holocast survivor I simply can't tolerate people who engage in big lie demagoguery. Aside from that, I don't even understand your logic. Myself and several of the others you reference have tried cases with Lester. What the heck happened in those trials? Did we get conscience pangs or did Lester backslide?Sorry to burden you with the truth but here goes: Nothing is black and white. Chuck had some serious character flaws but to say he created or condoned a "win at all costs" atmosphere is bullshit. In fact I can tell you when I lost the K-Mart mass arrest case the only thing he did was think me for my efforts. More importantly I can tell you that I never once felt that a job, promotion or pay raise depended on a particular verdict. That's not to say that a prosecutor I supervised who continually lost winnable cases wasn't scrutinized. I wouldn't want that ADA trying the case if my spouse or child was a victim and neither would you. Contrast that vs Lykos personally interrogating prosecutors who have lost trials and telling others that they had "better win" upcoming trials. Lykos has done some good things, defense OR's, Mental Health Unit, Chief & Asst Chief Investigators, but any claim that she eliminated a "win at all costs" atmosphere is false. The truth is 180 degrees opposite.I'm a big boy. As much as I didn't like it, Lykos won and she had the right to force me, my friends and co-workers to retire, leave, change jobs. Does that give anonomous losers the right to libel us? I would hope not. Vic Wisner

Hey 5:04,The proof of your misstatements will be self evident as time passes. When you clean house you don't use napalm, honey.I agree that employees shouldn't be titty babies but that is no excuse for the boss to be arrogant, spiteful, cavalier, oblivious, rude, arbitrary, prejudice, petty and downright mean. Familiarity often breeds contempt but respect does not require terror.

It is easy for your kind to condemn the proficiency of veteran prosecutors past as "win at all costs" using their courtroom prowess as a badge of dishonor. However, let's see how the Lykos/Leitner gang performs in trial. At some point plea bargains and harpoons will have to take second chair to actually going to trial on tough cases. Justice has been sold at the Harris County District Attorney's office and you have bought into the sham hook line and sinker; or at least feign it for your perverted job security. You, Madame, are a disgrace.

Life is good. Thanks for asking. I miss the overwhelming camaraderie that I felt at the D.A.'s Office, but I'm glad not to be there under the current Administration.

The pros and cons of Defense Work is a pretty broad topic. You have a lot more leg work to do, and I have quickly realized how much I took my secretary and investigator for granted back when I was at the D.A.'s Office! On the whole, though, it's a job that is every bit as rewarding as prosecution. There's just a lot of running around that has to be done.

To: Anon. 1:44 a.m. (3/26/09) You courageously have commented anonymously upon the blog of Vic Wisner by indicating "give me an effing break." Appartently this is Lykos era lingo - the imagination is sorely lacking.. I assume that I know the intent of this newly formed phraselogy; however, I would suggest that before you become such an allegedly talented lexicographer that you understand the significance of the era of world history whereby innocent people were exterminated at the bequest of a madman. Vic Wisner has something to be proud of beyond his outstanding service to Harris County and as a policeman over the years; he has a family member to be immensely proud of - proud of a person who survived barbarism on the part of the 3rd Reich. I suspect that the only thing that you have to be proud of is attempting to be a smart ass in your anonymous comment -even at that, however, you are a miserable failure. By luck, the official "blog" entry word was "whimp" - the fates were smiling down when they knew to whom the reply was to be directed.Calvin A. Hartmann

Murray, you will excel on this side as well. The cameraderie is every bit as strong among the defense bar. Send out a distress call and see how many attorneys come running to your aide. Please try to include more about your new practice in your blog.

Calvin,Your support of Vic and his legacy is very much appreciated by all of us that know and respect him.

The realities of political incompetence are widespread but ever so harsh when they hit close to home. Now Lykos has scheduled a war chest initiative at the Duncan's RO home with all the big name Republicans in attendance and/or as hosts. It just goes to show that our little world is dwarfed by the politics of reality......perception, not actual qualifications shape political reality.

Calvin, by no stretch of the imagination does the fact that his father survived the Holocaust (the Japanese killed more Chinese than Hitler killed Jews, by the way), lend credibility to his argument. I'm supposed to believe him, because his dad survived an atrocity? My father is a decorated vet as well. Are you now going to believe everything I say?

I'm sure people who are decorated war vets would be highly embarrassed to have off spring who don't have the guts to identify themselves when they name call or accuse others of misrepresentation or lying.

What seems to be a common thread in reading postings from supporters of the current HCDAO administration is that not one that I'm aware of has actually had the guts to identify themselves beyond "anonymous" or some absurd title. Curious that the very people who argue so stridently for the good that the new administration is doing and how bad the former adminstrations were are the very people who just can't summon up the courage to put their name out there. Seems it would be embarassing as a leader to have supporters who are such cowards they feel the need to lob their little mud pies at people behind a cyber "fence". Are you "hit men" or just whimps who got bullied when you were younger and it's just a big power trip to be ugly "anonymously" to others with whom you disagree in order to make yourself feel better? I guess if you were known, you might actually have to answer for the ugliness you spout in hiding.

TO: A Harris County Lawyer - sorry to clutter up your blog, but when a person belittles a parent we all should take offense.To: 5/27/09 @ 3:17 p.m. It is difficult to respond to an anonymous and gutless person because I do not know if I would find them to be a person with conviction, or a moron, or merely a misguided individual - if I only knew their identity I probably could reach a conclusion. I do not have a "whiny" letter to write (sorry), though, since you have already achieved that objective for me. I would have to note that the skill level is pathetic, however, but you made a half-ass effort. I am glad, however, that you are apparently proud of your father's service, assuming the veracity of your claim. If true, I thank him as well for his service to our country. The issue of the Germans, or in your mind the Japanese brutality, was not the focus of my comment - it was the disrepect that you showed both to Vic Wisner and more importantly his parent. Assuming that you are employed in the current administration, I hope that you can walk away at the end of your service and for your collegaues to say "well done." I think that other than those similarly pathetic people currently running your office your colleagues would have said to Vic; "well done."Calvin A. Hartmann

What seems to be a common thread in reading postings from supporters of the current HCDAO administration is that not one that I'm aware of has actually had the guts to identify themselves beyond "anonymous" or some absurd title.There must be a dozen anti-Lykos ADA's posting anonymously. Yet you say nothing about them.

I'm not pro-Lykos, but I am anti-Rosenthal. She represented a change that was needed. If your job is at risk because of it, that's probably because you were part of the problem in the first place.

but when a person belittles a parent we all should take offenseShow me where I belittled a parent. All I did was call him on his false appeal to authority, apparently because we should feel guilty about his father.

Calvin, your age must be getting to you. You rant and rave about things I never said, and say nothing of substance in return. You and yours assume I'm a coward or small person simply because I'm glad Rosenthal is gone. It's reminiscent of how Bush thought dissenters were aiding the terrorists just by pointing out when he was wrong. Sorry if your rantings can't stand up top scrutiny. If you're going to get your Depends in a wad, maybe you should leave the internet to the youngsters.

One of the inherent problems with blogs is that despite the best efforts of the host, people with room temperature IQ are able to post anonymously. Vic, Lester, Murray, Joe, Ed, Mike, Lyn, Warren and all the others who left voluntarily or otherwise since January were some of the best and brightest. Their collective institutional knowledge, wisdom and very speciailized expretise is missed at the office, as is a sense of direction and purpose. I wish all of you the best in whatever you to from here on out. Fortunately, being elected District Attorney in 2008 means that in 2012 you have to run for reelection. I would hope that one of these talented prosecutors would feel so disgusted at Lykos and her incompetence that they would feel compelled to run against her.

Perhaps I can help enlighten as to why people remain anonymous. I read this blog and I like it. I am also happy that Kelly Seigler was not elected. I don't like Pat Lykos personally but I like some of the things she has done since she took over. I have posted on this blog before, anonymously, and I will continue to post anonymously as long as Murray permits, for one simple reason: I, nor any other defense attorney, cannot afford to have some ADA take offense at something I have said on here and start making my life hell and affecting my clients. I know that you people seem to think that all DAs are noble and would never stoop to retaliating against an attorney and her clients, but I have been in the system for 20 years now and I have seen it done to other attorneys and I have had it happen to me. So posting anonymously is not cowardice, it is an abundance of caution and a form of self defense. No doubt the same goes for the ADAs that post here. They fear retaliation from a different source. I for one cannot afford to have some vindictive little ADA taking swipes at me through my clients, and I doubt anyone else wants that either.

9:17,At some point we need to stop blaming Rosenthal and own up to the current administration's failures.As Bad as Rosenthal was and is on so many levels--that in and of itself does not exonerate the horrible "leadership" of Lykos and company. I give Lykos credit for being a masterful misleading politician who has artfully fooled the Republican leadership and the uninformed segment of it's base. Her ruse, however, does not make her a good DA and it is incumbent upon us to educate the voters as to what is really going on. If the Republican Party just doesn't get it at the end of the day then maybe a qualified Democrat needs to be supported. Contrary to the Lykos philosophy, the DA should represent truth and justice rather than pander to achieve political favor. Imagine if the old Republican Guard of Harris County infiltrated a mole to see how Lykos really "managed" the HCDAO......what a rude awakening they'd be in for!Lykos is such a horrible human being she actually makes Rosenthal look good.....and that's saying a whole lot.

Hey Anon 11:32,I can understand how a criminal defense attorney and her clients would never want a super talented DA like Kelly Siegler at the helm. However, law abiding citizens like myself would disagree. Voter apathy and dirty politics achieved your goal in 2008; but 2012 will be a different story and your crook clients will have to get better representation.BTW, I'm sure you would have rather had your boy Brad; but he was such a joke he proved to be the troll's ace in the hole.So you and the DeGuerins of the world continue to whine and innuendo Kelly to death....but it is what it is and you will always be a punk.

Anon 11:32,You are fucking kidding, right? Fear not the lowly Harris County ADA. If you are not pleased with any ADA's demeanor or attitude simply alert little Jimmy Leitner and said ADA will be summarily disciplined and transferred to intake. Lykos and Leitner are here to please the defense bar at all costs so your excuse to shield your identity is as sound as your legal prowess.I, however, must remain anonymous so that you don't report me and have me banished to the bowels of intake.

However, law abiding citizens like myself would disagree.This is a pathetically ignorant logical fallacy. Those who oppose Siegler must not be law abiding?

You're a tool.

I, however, must remain anonymous so that you don't report me and have me banished to the bowels of intake.Coward. At least have the balls to take the heat, like Murray has done. What are you afraid of?

At some point we need to stop blaming Rosenthal and own up to the current administration's failures.She hasn't been there long enough to objectively judge her. Unless you're one of those Republican tea party types who are all of a sudden outraged that we have a deficit under Obama, when you stayed silent under Bush who got us in this mess in the first place.

Imagine if the old Republican Guard of Harris County infiltrated a mole to see how Lykos really "managed" the HCDAO......what a rude awakening they'd be in for!Don't fool yourself, the commissioners know exactly what she's doing. Where do you think she came from? The County Attorney's office.

Anon 4:41,OMG, you are the poster girl for: "You can't fix stupid".1. There was no reference to exclusivity with respect to law abiding citizens supporting Kelly. Unfortunately, ALL the law abiding voters were not educated as to the qualifications of the candidates. Those that were voted for Kelly unless they had ulterior motives such as yourself. The plethora of judicial benches suffer the same issue.2. You and I are both anonymous cowards. I would "be banished to the bowels of intake" as stated in my post or lose my job if my identity was revealed while you would only be exposed as the fool you are.3. People don't change. Pat has always been Pat. You either don't know her true reputation, choose to ignore it or are so concerned with promoting your personal agenda that you embrace political corruption.4. I agree many of the County Commissioners are cut from a similar cloth as your buddy Pat. However, there might be some politically active moneyed Republicans in the private sector that wouldn't buy the bullshit if made aware of the gravity of the Lykos ruse. But who the heck knows--maybe there's more widespread corruption than I can imagine.

About Me

I'm a Criminal Defense Attorney and a former Harris County prosecutor. I've been involved in Criminal Law since I was in college, and I've been practicing in Houston for over 15 years.
Most people never have to come down to the Harris County Criminal Justice Center unless they have jury duty. This blog is meant to give the Outsider an inside view.
These are just my opinions. The opinions of the Commenters are also just their opinions and I don't endorse them. But (within reason), I want everybody to be able to have a forum to say what they want to say.